The Independent-News, Volume 111, Number 29, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 19 December 1985 — Page 15

billions available for HOME IMPROVEMENT GRANTS AND LOANS Most homeowners are unaware I that regardless of their income there are Federal, state and local programs that will help them repair and remodel their homes. Government at all levels recognizes that neighborhoods are the basis of life in our country. When a neighborhood deteriorates, many things happen both physically and socially. When the homes look shabby, a neighborhood seems more attractive to crime and criminals. An area in decline is like a spreading cancer. As homes become shabby looking and in need of maintenance, the residents lose their desire to keep up the neighborhood. Streets become receptacles for trash, schools lower their standards and very quickly the selling price of homes in the area drops sharply. This accelerates the cycle of degeneration. In order to keep and maintain the nation's housing and neighborhoods, government at all levies have programs to give homeowners money (that does not have to be repaid) for repairs or to lend them money at below market levels or at no interest. In many areas utility companies will either do energy conservation work free or at low cost and in other places will lend homeowners money at no

5 FIRST ; I W assembly I OF GOO »Wg CHOIR I I ' 57 ~ Presents t | THE BEGINNING I | OF CHRISTMAS > I Sunday, December 22 j J 3:00 p.m. I X 8 PUBLIC CORDIALLY INVITED Refreshments Provided Afterwards J । Corner Os Michigan & Vin Buren Streets 1 Walkerton * I Holiday Hint. . . GIFT SUBSCRIPTION Enter A Gift Subscription To » THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS J For One Year I enclose $5.00 for a subscription in the \ state of Indiana or $6.00 for a subscription out of state ij Name ’• i I Addrm_ — _______ S City & State ! Gift From ; ; Send A Gift That Keeps On Giving All Year! THE IMOEPEHDEMT HEWS (We will notify them of their new subscription) <[

interest to pay the contractor of their choice for the necessary work. In addition there are tax incentives to promote efficient energy use. These programs are not restricted to low-income people, slum areas or urban neighborhoods. Owners of single or multi-family dwellings are eligible. Most of the loans offer long terms and low payments. Some programs have no ceiling and others allow income of as much as $50,000 per year. There are even programs for which tenants are eligible and many allow loans to poor credit risks. In many areas, people with disabilities can receive grants to pay for needed repairs such as access ramps and widening of doorways. Some of the other home improvements covered under these programs are: Attic and wall insulation; New windows; Outerwall siding; Security doors and locks; Window guards; Sidewalks and masonry work; Bathrooms and kitchens; Electrical and plumbing; New roofs, gutters or downspouts. Consumer Education Research Center, a national non-profit consumer group, has compiled a book listing loan and grant programs offered by all levels of govern-

ments as well as utility companies and others. The b<x)k “Consumers Guide To Government Housing Grants And Loans” is available for $7.00 from CERC, 439 Clark Street. South Orange, N. J. 07079. Since it is important that the work be done properly, the book includes a section that gives a rough estimate of the cost of many jobs as well as advice on picking a contractor and even negotiating a contract. MARSHALL COUNTY PORK QUEEN CONTESTANT APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE The Marshall County Pork Producers are now taking applications for the upcoming contest to select the 1986 Marshall County Pork Queen. The new queen will be crowned by Terry Jo Morrison, 1985 Pork Queen. She will receive a SIOO.OO gift certificate from the Pork Producers in addition to a tiara and pigskin banner. All contestants taking part in the contest will receive a gift certificate and will be the guests of the Pork Producers at a luncheon following the contest and at the Barrow Show Awards Banquet on February 17th. Contestants must be single, be- ! tween the ages of 16 and 19 (as of January 1. 1986) and have parents or guardians who are actively eni gaged in the production of pork in Marshall County. The contest will take place on January 4, 1986 at 10:00 a.m. in the Marshall County Extension Office. Application forms are available at the Extension Office on the third floor of the County Building, or by contacting Judy McCollough, 3425378. or Bonnie Hendricks, 9368461. TOWN BOARD MINUTES NOT READY THIS WEEK The minutes of the Walkerton Town Board meeting of Monday, December 9, were not ready or available for our publication as of Tuesday evening. December 17. We will publish the minutes when they are available. Dickens extolled Christmas in his writings Os all authors, perhaps no other is as closely associated with Christmas as Charles Dickens. His classic ‘‘A Christmas Carol” has been read and reread, and translated into stage, motion picture and television productions. But, not many are aware that Dickens wrote other Christmas tales. They were fairy tales with a moral, published during the Christmas season in the 1840 s. According to researchers, Christmas was very special to Dickens. He saw it as a time when people were more giving and more open to change. This kind of change was classically described in “A Christmas Carol” when the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge learns to celebrate Christmas with warmth and generosity. One of the other Christmas books, "The Haunted Man” is written in the same vein. It tells of a chemist who had endured much suffering and betrayal in his youth. As he sits gazing into the fireplace on Christmas Eve, a spirit grants the unhappy man forgetfulness from the sad past But, the chemist discovers that his happy memories are wiped out with the unhappy memories, as well. He realizes that he does not want to forget his past, after all. Dickens was editor of a magazine for 17 years. Each year, he would prepare a Christmas issue, filled with songs and stones of the season In addition to the five Christmas books he wrote, Dickens also published two volumes of Christmas stones.

DECEMBER 19, 1985 - THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS -

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